Overflow shield for refuse collection vehicle body hopper opening

ABSTRACT

A top-loading refuse collection vehicle having a refuse body with an opening through which refuse is dumped by a boom elevated tiltable refuse container. A horizontal shield is disposed at one end of and proximate the body opening for receiving possible refuse spillage during the dumping operation. After the refuse container is withdrawn, the shield is tilted upwardly toward the opening to dump the spillage back thereinto.

United States Patent Brisson Mar. 11, 1975 [54] OVERFLOW SHIELD FOR REFUSE 2,315,828 3132; who 214/302 ,338,623 1 orrison 214/302 COLLECTION VEHICLE BODY HOPPER 3,353,696 11/1967 Goodman 214/302 OPENING [57] ABSTRACT A top-loading refuse collection vehicle having a refuse body with an opening through which refuse is dumped by a boom elevated tiltable refuse container. A horizontal shield is disposed at one end of and proximate the body opening for receiving possible refuse spillage during the dumping operation. After the refuse container is withdrawn, the shield is tilted upwardly toward the opening to dump the spillage back thereinto.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures [75] Inventor: John R. Brisson, Kingsford, Mich. [73] Assignee: Lodal lnc., Kingsford, Mich. 221' Filed: Sept. 13, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 396,847

[52] US. Cl. 214/303 [51] Int. Cl B65f 3/02 [58] Field of Search 214/301, 302, 303, 307, 214/314 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,488,429 ll/l949 Ochsner 3,130,845 4/1964 French et al 214/302 OVERFLOW SHIELD FOR REFUSE COLLECTION VEHICLE BODY HOPPER OPENING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an overflow shield for a refuse collection vehicle body hopper opening. The invention is contemplated for use in connection with a refuse collection vehicle for receiving, compacting and storing refuse.

Previous refuse collection vehicles of the toploading type have been provided with a body having a top opening through which refuse was dumped by means of a front boom operated liftable refuse container. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,016,157 entitled Loader Apparatus. The top opening has usually been provided with a pivotable cover means which is closed when refuse is not being dumped.

It has been observed that when a front tilting refuse container dumps refuse into a body which is substantially or nearly full, refuse tends to spill out over the front opening edge onto the vehicle cab. This refuse cannot be retrieved unless the operator climbs up onto the vehicle. Spillage may also be caused when the refuse container is withdrawn upwardly and forwardly from the body opening, which may tend to pull refuse along with it.

To the knowledge of the inventor, no one has previously solved the difficulty. I

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a simple, yet effective way to eliminate and/or retrieve spillage beyond the confines of the body opening. In accordance with the invention, a horizontal shield is disposed at one end of and proximate to the body opening for receiving pos sible refuse spillage. After the refuse container is withdrawn, the shield is tilted upwardly toward the opening to dump the spillage back thereinto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated by the inventor for carrying out the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a refuse collection vehicle incorporating the concept of the invention, and showing the refuse container in lowered and dumping position;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the vehicle and showing the body opening and cover means; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary somewhat schematic side elevation of the overflow shield and its associated tilting controls.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in the drawings, the concept of the invention is contemplated for use in connection with a refuse collection vehicle 1 having a cab 2 and a chassis frame 3 which supports a refuse receiving and storing body 4. A compaction unit of any well-known type, and having a platen 5, may be disposed within the body to reduce the volume of refuse. Body 4 is provided with side walls 6, a roof section 7 and also a tailgate 8 which may form an openable door for discharge of the refuse.

Roof section 7 is provided with a large generally rectangular opening 9 through which refuse is dumped.

Opening 9 has pivotable cover means comprising a pair of doors 10 which are hinged longitudinally at 11 along the side top portions of body 4, and which approximately join at the center. Doors 10 may be pneumatically or hydraulically opened or closed selectively as by control cylinders 12.

For purposes of loading body 4, a suitable boom 13 is mounted to the forward portion of body 4 and is adapted to receive a refuse container 14. A suitably controlled boom cylinder 15 pivots boom 13 to a raised position, as shown in FIG. 1, whereby refuse in container 14 is dumped through opening 9 into body 4. At this time, of course, doors 10 are opened.

As previously mentioned, refuse spillage 16 may occur forwardly of the front end edge 17 of opening 9. In accordance with the invention, means are provided to receive this spillage and subsequently divert it back into body 4 after boom 13 is lowered. For this purpose, a transversely extending plate-like overflow shield 18 is disposed forwardly of edge 17 and is independent of doors 10. The rearward edge of shield 18 is disposed proximate opening edge 17 at a slightly higher level and is hinged as at 19 to an upward extension 20 of body 4. The rear face 21 of extension 20 is also plate-like to prevent spillage 16 from penetrating therebeneath.

A shield pivoting cylinder 22 is provided which is independent of cylinders 12 and which is connected between body 4 forwardly of hinge l9 and the forward lower edge portion of shield 18, as at 23 and 24. Cylinder 22 may be actuatingly controlled by any suitable pneumatic or hydraulic system, such as an air-tank 25 and control valve 26. I

When refuse is being dumped into body 4, shield 18 is in the normal down or horizontal position forwardly of opening 9, shown in full lines in FIG. 3. Subsequent to refuse dumping, valve 24 is actuated to raise shield 18 rearwardly to the approximately vertical position shown in dashed lines, whereby any spillage 16 is propelled back into the body. Doors 10 may then be closed.

By eliminating or removing loose spillage at the container dumping site, there will be no spillage to blow away when the vehicle travels on the street.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

1. A refuse collection vehicle comprising, in combination:

a. a frame mounted on the vehicle,

b. a refuse receiving body disposed on said frame, said body having a top roof section with an opening therein,

c. closure means for closing said opening,

d. control means for actuating said closure means to selectively open or close said opening,

e. a pivotable boom on the forward portion of said vehicle and adapted to receive a refuse container thereon,

f. means to pivot said boom from a lowered position upwardly to a raised position so that refuse is dumped from said container through said opening and into said body when said closure means is open,

g. a transversely extending shield member independent of said closure means and with said shield 3 4 member having a rearward edge disposed proxia. which includes a body portion extending upwardly mate the forward edge of said opening, said shield from adjacent the forward edge of said opening, member receiving spillage of refuse forwardly of said body portion having a plate-like rear face to said forward edge of said opening during dumping, prevent penetration of spillage therethrough, h. means hinging said rearward shield edge to said 5 b. wherein the rearward edge of said shield is conframe, nected to said upwardly extending body portion by i. and means independent of said control means to a hinge,

hingedly tilt said shield from a normal generally 0. and wherein said shield tilting means comprises: horizontal position forwardly of said opening to a 1. a shield pivoting cylinder extending between said generallyvertical position subsequent to refuse body, forwardly of said hinge, and the forward dumping for returning spillage into said opening lower edge portion of said shield, before said closure means closes said opening. 2. and means to actuate said cylinder.

2. The combination of claim 1: 

1. A refuse collection vehicle comprising, in combination: a. a frame mounted on the vehicle, b. a refuse receiving body disposed on said frame, said body having a top roof section with an opening therein, c. closure means for closing said opening, d. control means for actuating said closure means to selectively open or close said opening, e. a pivotable boom on the forward portion of said vehicle and adapted to receive a refuse container thereon, f. means to pivot said boom from a lowered position upwardly to a raised position so that refuse is dumped from said container through said opening and into said body when said closure means is open, g. a transversely extending shield member independent of said closure means and with said shield member having a rearward edge disposed proximate the forward edge of said opening, said shield member receiving spillage of refuse forwardly of said forward edge of said opening during dumping, h. means hinging said rearward shield edge to said frame, i. and means independent of said control means to hingedly tilt said shield from a normal generally horizontal position forwardly of said opening to a generally vertical position subsequent to refuse dumping for returning spillage into said opening before said closure means closes said opening.
 1. a shield pivoting cylinder extending between said body, forwardly of said hinge, and the forward lower edge portion of said shield,
 1. A refuse collection vehicle comprising, in combination: a. a frame mounted on the vehicle, b. a refuse receiving body disposed on said frame, said body having a top roof section with an opening therein, c. closure means for closing said opening, d. control means for actuating said closure means to selectively open or close said opening, e. a pivotable boom on the forward portion of said vehicle and adapted to receive a refuse container thereon, f. means to pivot said boom from a lowered position upwardly to a raised position so that refuse is dumped from said container through said opening and into said body when said closure means is open, g. a transversely extending shield member independent of said closure means and with said shield member having a rearward edge disposed proximate the forward edge of said opening, said shield member receiving spillage of refuse forwardly of said forward edge of said opening during dumping, h. means hinging said rearward shield edge to said frame, i. and means independent of said control means to hingedly tilt said shield from a normal generally horizontal position forwardly of said opening to a generally vertical position subsequent to refuse dumping for returning spillage into said opening before said closure means closes said opening. 